Jasper Downtown Revitalization Phase II update for May 17

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The Downtown Revitalization Phase II Project in Jasper is moving forward, with current work centered on North Main Street between 7th and 9th Streets. City officials expect both blocks to remain closed for most of the construction period. A project update released on May 17 outlines the upcoming construction schedule, subject to weather conditions and…

Jasper police make molestation/exploitation arrest

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Jasper Police arrested an 18-year-old for numerous preliminary felony counts involving molestation, exploitation, battery, intimidation and possession of child pornography. Police opened an investigation into Denis Clark-Espinal of Jasper after receiving a tip that he had been in an inappropriate relationship with a female juvenile. After investigating the tip, detectives with the Jasper Police Department…

Dollar General being added north of Holland

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A new Dollar General is in the works in the southwest area of the county. After a recent sale of a two-acre plot at the northwest corner of State Road 161 and Old Road 64 north of Holland, plans are moving forward on adding the county’s seventh Dollar General location. Work is expected to begin…

Southwest Dubois School Board member clarifies status of Teen Outback: “Just an Idea”

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A single resident spoke up at Thursday’s regular Southwest Dubois County School Corporation meeting about concerns for the Teen Outback. Concerns for the youth center and programming began after a post on the organization’s Facebook account on Sunday. The group stated the corporation had plans to improve the property, including parking upgrades and tearing down…

Piece by Piece Counseling adds therapists, expands to second location

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Piece by Piece Counseling Center, established in 2020 by Jasper native Kara Glendening, continues to expand its mental health services to meet the growing needs of Dubois County and surrounding areas. What began as a solo practice has grown to include multiple therapists and now offers medication management services, demonstrating the significant demand for mental…

Uhl Collectors Society celebrating 40th Anniversary at annual festival in Huntingburg

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Annual Uhl Fest on June 21 will feature rare pottery displays, beer tasting, and a silent auction to honor Southern Indiana’s pottery heritage The Uhl Collectors Society is preparing to mark its 40th anniversary with the annual Uhl Fest celebration on June 21, 2025, at the Huntingburg Event Center. The event showcases the legacy of…

$115,000 grant helps Southridge’s dual credit program

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The following is a press release from the school corporation. Students at Southridge High School will soon benefit from real-world training tools, thanks to a $115,000 Perkins Education Readiness Grant awarded this school year. The funding, part of a statewide initiative led by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, will enhance Dual Credit programs in…

Judge Verkamp hears INDOT’s request for temporary restraining order allowing access to properties in Mid-States Corridor

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The Dubois County Circuit Court is considering the Indiana Department of Transportation’s request for a temporary restraining order against property owners who have denied access to their land for environmental surveys related to the Mid-States Corridor project. Judge Nathan Verkamp heard testimony Thursday in a case that pits the state’s statutory authority to conduct preliminary…

Huntingburg Fire Department hosting Community Family Day

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The Huntingburg Fire Department’s second annual Community Family Day is this Saturday, May 17, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Memorial Gym. The event includes multiple activities like a fire truck scavenger hunt, drone demonstrations, and a bicycle rodeo. Find out more below. Free hot dogs will be available, and pork chop dinners will…

Huntingburg Council approvals pave way for new housing

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The Huntingburg Council has unanimously approved rezoning for the Poplar Ridge development project. The area, previously zoned as B3 (heavy commercial), is now classified as R3 (high-density residential). The council adopted Ordinance 2025-11 following a request from landowners QOZB LLC. Representatives from the LLC, Ruger Kerstiens and Scott Steinkamp, were present at the meeting. During…

City taking steps to expand scope of repairs to First Street

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According to Mayor Neil Elkins, the First Street wastewater project is expanding beyond its original scope to include repairs of the roadway to add to its longevity, with city officials expecting completion this summer. During Tuesday’s council meeting, Huntingburg Councilman Tim Wehr asked for a public update on the wastewater project impacting First Street. “The…

Huntingburg Council, mayor weigh in on Teen Outback future

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Tuesday evening, Huntingburg’s Common Council and Mayor Neil Elkins expressed support for ensuring the city’s youth have options as the future of the Teen Outback is in question. The discussion prompted by Mayor Elkins revealed strong personal connections to the center and emphasized its vital role in Huntingburg’s community fabric. Elkins opened the conversation by…

Column: Class clowns unite and celebrate! Dave Barry has written a new book

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Today should be declared a national holiday. A memoir has just been launched by the funniest writer in America, Pulitzer-Prize winner Dave Barry. The book is called Class Clown: The Memoirs of a Professional Wiseass. It’s through line: “How I Went 77 Years Without Growing Up.” For two weeks, I anxiously awaited its arrival, peeing…

Jasper Police Chief highlights April activities

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After Mayor Dean Vonderheide acknowledged National Police Week in a proclamation during Tuesday’s Board of Public Works and Safety meeting, Chief Chad Dick thanked him and outlined several police activities in April. Officers demonstrated quick thinking when responding to a runaway juvenile case on April 9. Using Flock camera technology and cell phone tracking, they…

Police announce increased patrols ahead of Memorial Day weekend

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With Memorial Day marking the unofficial start of summer travel, local police departments are preparing to step up patrols to crack down on seatbelt usage. From May 17 through May 31, police officers across the state will participate in a national campaign to promote safe driving habits, including seat belt usage “To kick off the…

Sunday Amp Unplugged series kicks off with ‘UnLedded Acoustic Tribute to Led Zeppelin’ on May 18

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The Lincoln Amphitheatre’s first Amp Unplugged Sunday matinee of the 2025 season will be this Sunday, May 18, as the Chicago-based band Kashmir brings their ‘UnLedded Acoustic Tribute to Led Zeppelin’ to Lincoln City.  Doors for this special afternoon event open at 3 p.m. with the performance beginning at 4 p.m.  All times are central. …

Former Indiana contractor hacked, sends scam toll messages from state accounts

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by Leslie Bonilla Muñiz, Indiana Capital ChronicleMay 13, 2025 Fraudulent messages purportedly sent by state agencies about collecting tolls are “scams,” the Indiana Office of Technology confirmed Tuesday.  The office cautioned Hoosiers to “not click on any of the links,” noting that Indiana “does not send unpaid toll notifications via text or email messages.” “A…

Public meeting planned for intersection improvement project on State Road 56

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The Indiana Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting for a proposed intersection improvement project at the intersection of State Road 56 and County Road 350 W in Dubois County. The state had previously slated the intersection to be turned into a roundabout. The discussion will occur on Tuesday, May 20; doors open at 5:30…

Chalk Walk 2025, this coming Saturday, May 17 from 8am to 2pm

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Jasper Arts’ 22nd annual Chalk Walk Arts Festival will once again be held at the Thyen-Clark Cultural Center (located at 100 3rd Ave. Jasper, IN 47546) this Saturday, May 17, 2025, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  Chalk Walk 2025 will see the return of crowd favorites such as balloon art, caricature drawings, bounce houses…

Voter registration maintenance postcards coming your way

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by Niki Kelly, Indiana Capital ChronicleMay 12, 2025 Hoosier voters will soon be receiving postcards in the mail from the Secretary of State’s Election Division as part of statewide voter registration list maintenance. A news release issued Monday said the goal is to identify outdated, duplicate, and inaccurate voter registrations to improve the accuracy and…

Facebook post prompts premature reveal of potential plans for Teen Outback/Memorial Gym upgrades

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A recent post on Facebook led many to believe the Teen Outback, a 27-year-old youth center in Huntingburg, faces an uncertain future. Ralph Begle, a Teen Outback board member and operations officer, who has been involved with the organization since its inception, said the organization was working to replace the building’s roof this year. At…

Live exercise helps train county’s emergency response teams

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Ferdinand—On Saturday morning, Ferdinand residents may have been surprised to find a multitude of emergency responders, police and firefighters surrounding the MasterBrand plant on 3rd Street.  Fortunately, this wasn’t a true emergency; it was a live training exercise conducted by the Dubois County Local Emergency Planning Committee to ensure county responders are prepared when a real…

Reminder: tax installments due today

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Dubois County Treasurer Craig Greulich issued a reminder that the spring installment of property taxes is due today by midnight. There are several payment options: 1. Online-  http://www.duboiscountyin.us 2. Phone- (812) 678-7983. You will need your parcel number. A 2.5% fee will apply.  3. Mail-Enclose check and colored ‘remittance coupon(s)’ with the envelope provided.  4….

State Road 64 closure near Augusta

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The Indiana Department of Transportation announces a road closure for State Road 64 in Pike County near Augusta. Beginning on or around Monday, May 19, crews will close State Road 64 between County Road 400 E and South Augusta/Vigo Street in Pike County. This closure is for maintenance operations. Depending on the weather, work is…

Memorial Hospital Foundation makes $950,000 investment in patient care

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The Memorial Hospital Foundation announced a $950,000 transformative investment in patient care and caregiver support for Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center. The investment has been made possible by a generous gift from an anonymous donor. This restricted donation, designated specifically for hospital improvements, has funded the purchase of 46 new Stryker ProCuity beds and…

New group hosting Immigration 101 teach-in

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Building Community 2025 is hosting an Immigration 101 event on Thursday, May 22, at 6:30 p.m. at St. Benedict’s Brew Works, 860 E. 10th Street in Ferdinand. “Building Community is a group of concerned citizens in rural southwestern Indiana who saw a need to respond to the current political climate in the US with facts,…

A look back at April in photos

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We’ve compiled a few photos from April’s events and news. Some you’ve seen and some are new.

Dubois County rally planned in anticipation of court appearance

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Next Wednesday, May 14, 121 property owners sued by the Indiana Department of Transportation will appear in the Dubois County Circuit Court at 1 p.m. Ahead of the court appearance, members of the grassroots group, Property Rights Alliance, and concerned community members are holding a rally at noon outside the courthouse. According to organizers, the…

East Nash Grass performing at the historic Astra Theatre on Saturday, June 14, 2025

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The Astra Theatre will be presenting some truly high-energy bluegrass music on Saturday, June 14, when East Nash Grass takes to the Jim & Pat Thyen Performance Stage. The Lowland Ramblers will be kicking off the evening at 8:00 PM. An ensemble of standout players from a city known for the quality of its musicians,…

Will Hoge to headline 15th Annual Ferdinand Folk Festival

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On Saturday, September 20, 2025, the Ferdinand Folk Festival returns to the beautiful 18th Street Park for its 15th annual event. The 2025 lineup features seven local, regional, and national artists, including headliner Will Hoge from Nashville, Tenn. Will Hoge has a career whose milestones include Number One hits, Grammy nods, major-label record deals, and…

New bungee fitness studio takes flight in Jasper

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You have to trust the bungees and listen to instructor, Jennifer Fromme. If you do, you’ll have a lot of fun in an hour long class at Jasper’s newest fitness studio, Wing It Bungee Fitness, as you fly through the air, spin around and forget you’re there to get a great workout. “When you trust…